Finger-rest for banjos.



W. H. GROWN. FINGER BEST FOR BANJOS.

APPLICATION FILED MAE. 8, 1910.

Patented July 26, 1910.

WALTER H. CROWN, OF NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FINGER-REST FOR BANJOS.

Patented July 26, 1910.

Application filed March 3, 1910. Serial No. 547,096.

965,691. Specification of Letters Yatent.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVi-mrnn H. CROWN, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Northampton, in the county of Hampshire and State of BIassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Finger-Rests for Banjos, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to an improved finger rest for a banjo, and is characterized by the provision of a rigid bar-like member which is supported at one side of the rim of a banjo and which extends above, and in separated relation to, the head of the instrument and terminates in proximity to the string.

By the provision of a finger rest such as comprised in this invention, the advantages are two-told: Firstly, there is an avoidance of dampening the vibratory action of the head or diaphragm in the playing of the instrun'icnt; and, secondly, the head is prevented from becoming discolored and rendered unsightly, as is at present commonly the case where in the playing of the instrument the finger is permitted to come in contact with the head.

The improved appliance for the banjo is described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and set forth in the claim.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a plan view of the banjo showing the location of the finger rest thereon; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view as taken on line 2 2, Fig. 1.

In the drawings, A represents the circular rim of a banjo over the upper edge of which is stretched the head B which is tensioned, as usual, by the hoop C of which the hook rods D D engage in the usual manner.

G represents the finger rest, the same consisting of a shank (4 having a screw threaded extremity which engages through one of the apertured lugs 71 provided and having an outstanding relation at the rim of the banjo, and an angular rigid, inwardly bent bar-like member j extending from the upper edge of the rim and slightly above and separated from the banjo head, toward and terminating in proximity to the strings.

The shank portion a of the device is to all intents and purposes a counterpart of one of the hook lugs D which engage the head tensioning hoop C; and a nut f similar to the series of nuts f employed for a multiplicity of the hook rods D, serviceable in the same manner for drawing the shank member a. downwardly so that it likewise exerts a strain on the hoop C.

The extremity of the bar-like member 7' of the finger rest is widened, as represented at (Z, and is provided with a depression g in its upper side in which the end of the little finger may rest and prevent it from slipping ofi of the finger rest in the action of playing.

I claim The combination with the circular rim of a banjo, having an outstanding apertured lug, of a finger rest, consisting of a shank having a screw-threaded extremity engaged through said apertured lug, and an angular rigid inwardly bent, bar-like member, extending from the upper edge of the rim, and slightly above and separated from the banjo head, toward and terminating in proximity to the strings, and a nut for confining the shank in its relation to the aperturcd lug.

Signed by me at Springfied Mass. in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

\VALTER H. CROWN.

lVitnesses V31. S. BnLLows, G. R. DRISCOLL. 

